Stencil cutting gauge



Sept. 19, 1950 D. D. MOORE 2,522,886

SvTENCIL CUTTING GAUGE Filed April 29, 1947 51H01 uca l Patented Sept. 19', 1'9`5` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STENCIL CUTTING GAUGE David D. Moore, Toledo, -Ohio ApplicationApril 29, 1947, Serial No. 744,581

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to taking a lineal dimension of an item for ready placement in a diierent location, more particularly for centering publicity matter on the publication item therefor.

This invention has utility when incorporated in a scale or gage carrying adjustable hand tool adapted for ready checking of characters, say as pre-typewritten copy, which is to be re-set-up thru a typewriter cut stencil into publicity sheets, whereby the selected matter or character groupings from the preliminary draft may be definitely centered or attractively positioned on the multicopy production from the stencil.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a typewriter for cutting a stencil, as a wax sheet of the mimeograph adaptation;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the embodiment oi the invention adapted for use in conjunction with the production of stencils by typewriters from typewritten copy initial or rough draft therefor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View, in section, on the line IIL-III, Fig. 2, showing the operating means for the caliper-like adjustable fingers adapted to take the over-all lineal dimension of the line portion to be centrally located on the stencil to be cut; and

Fig. 4 is a partial View of a pre-typed copy which is to be adapted to the stencil to be cut.

A major frame I, which may be of extruded or molded plastic, metal or wood strip, is shown with a front side wall portion having along one edge thereof a slight overhang 2, with a scale or graduations 3 therealong. From the opposite edge of the front of the frame I there is a more pronounced overhang or offset wall portion 4 to provide an open top channel, guide or slide way 5.

Medially of the length of the frame I is a bearing 6, at which is a screw 'I adapted to assemble with the frame I, a pinion 8 having an actuator knob or handle 9.

The pinion 8 is an actuator for a pair of slide elements I0, II, held in coacting relation toward the Ibearing 6 by a boss I2 from the knob 9. Each of the elements I0, II, has lengthwise thereof a slot I3. The slide II) rides in the groove 5 to be held thereby so that a rack I4 along the lower side of the slot I3 of the slide ID is in mesh with the pinion 8 at all times.

. thru the stencil from the copy 22.

The opposite side of the slot I3 of the slide I9 from the rack I4 is a straight region I5 with a clearance I 6 relatively to the pinion 8. The slide II is conversely formed. At the top side of the slot I3 of the slide Il is a rack I1 normally held in mesh relation with the pinion 8 opposite side from the rack I4, by the overhang 2. The lower or opposite side of the slot I3 of the slide II has a straight region I8 normally having a clearance I9 from the pinion 8 lower side.

Terminally the slide I0 has a finger or pointer 20 extending outward from the frame I remote from the overhang 4. The end. of the slide II at the opposite side oi the actuator pinion. 8, has a pointer 2 I.

Rotation of the knob 9 clockwise (Fig. 2) has the pinion 8 lower side act on the rack I 5 to move the pointer 26 more centrally of the frame I. Simultaneously the pinion 8 is in mesh with the rack I1 and is effective to an equal extent'to cause the pointer 2I to travel away from the end of the frame I.

According to the advantageous practice hereunder, the one desiring to get out attractive publicity matter from typewriting source, may have a copy or sheet 22 (Fig. 4) having thereon :a typed schedule, program, or other matter in lines 23 (Fig. 4). With such copy at hand, the one to produce the stencil, say at a typewriter 24 (Fig. l), may place on its platen or roll 25 a fresh stencil sheet 26 to be out. No matter where the stencil sheet 26 be placed as to the platen 25, such need not be checked with scale 21 movable with the platen 25, nor with a scale 28 iixed with the platen carriage on the frame 24. There is rapid course available to the one to reproduce A heading, sub-heading, or any other matter which it is desired to locate denitely on the stencil sheet 26, may be calipered, or checked as to its overall length by placing the frame I adjacent 'thereto and operating the knob 9 so that the entire subject-matter lies just within the pointers 20, 2I. With the pointers 20, 2 I, thus adjusted, the tool may be placed adjacent the stencil sheet 26 for the scale portions 3 to read the same at lthe inward position for the edges of the sheet 26. The knob 9 is thereby located in the center of the sheet 26. In the event the copy to be placed be typewriting, the pointer 2| xes the place the line is to start, and with following the same letters and spacing as in the copy, the line is to end at the pointer 20. Instead of centering, the measure taken from the copy may lbe used as a dimension check as to whether there be suflicient space on the stencil therefor. It is thus seen that the advance measuring may be for stencil area checking before cutting thereof. However, the major practical operating advantage is centering of copy 29 in its location on the stencil sheet.

In the practice hereunder, while the frame l need not necessarily be transparent, there is scalechecking advantage in having the slides I0, ll, with scalefmarkings .-30 thereonfin superposing relation as to the scale 3 on the frame l.

As an adjustable gage or hand tool for dimension-disclosing operations, the utility of the embodiment of the invention may extend keven to more minute location, due to a point or yscratclier 30 at the respective pointers 20, 2l. :Furthermore, in the instance of say use upon o-r with a wax stencil or like paper, a thrusting Idownmay locate points, while a drawing of the tool ,or device with the points 30 -in marking contact, may coact .to layout aframe or margin for the particular job at "hand, With a thirdscratcher or markingpoin't 3l atthe mid position ofthe frame l, say just upward from the axis of the `knob-'9,

points or 'marks may be made exactly central bel tween `,the 'points 3`0, whether the .points .30 'be merely'maximum overall width Yin location and the marking be conin'ed to the pointer 3l. Due to "locating thefpointer 3 l slightly offsetifrom lthe direct 'line (between `the 'terminal lpointers 3S the frame I may be tilted slightly 'on ka lengthwise axis therefor. In' this tilting, onewayythe pointers 30 would be clear "of work vmarking contact, say as marginally clear but abutting, V'and the `medial pointer 31 coulddetermine a central `scratching vor marking. With the opposite slight tilting, Ithe central pointer `3i lwould be cleared 'of the vwork andthe -pointers 30 could be active,:in'theopera tionof theframe I.

:What 'is claimed and it Yis Adesired to secureloy Betters'Patentis 1. iinealY measuringY means Acomprising la'fram'e forming strip having longitudinally'thereof awall portion `providing a bearingniedially ofthe length of 'the strip and -graduations 'extending yalong the strip from the bearing, said strip having an pl posing additional wall portion and a connecting offset between the wall portions providing an open top slide way, an actuating knob, a pinion fixed with the knob, there being mounting means assembling the pinion for rotation at the bearing, and a pair of complementary pointer-carrying rack elements oppositely coacting with the pinion for shifting along the slide way with the pointers protruding from the Way open top and in proximity to the graduations xed with the wall portion strip providing the bearing.

2. For typewritten matter stencil cutting layout, more particularly for centering from pretyped copy -`on `the stencil, a frame strip with a base forming 1an offset with two Wall vportions upward therefrom forming a slide guide, one of :said portions having a central bearing-providing opening and along said wall portion a scale adapted vto `span the overall width of a stencil sheet, a,pair;of pointer-carrying rack elements in the guide, a pinion oppositely coacting with the .,elements, `and-a knob actuator for the pinion at the bearing shifting the elements in the guide, whereby turning of the knob may direct the pointers to Span a selected copy portion in thereby providing specific spacing betweent'he pointers upon locating Ythe lstrip at lequal clearancey from the stencil edges as disclosedby the scale on the frame for centering the selectedpopyl lDal/ID D. MOOR-E.

REFERENCES TCITED The `following references are of record ,in the iile ,of .this patenti UNITED STATES Number 'Name Date L152,019 Pedersen -May-1'2, 1831` 651,328 Guilmette June 5, 1900 875,370 Frankv Dec. 31, `:1907 914,370 Gibbons Mar. 2,1909

1,398,871 Livingston Noi/.'29, :1921 1,539,700 -S'tram'a-g-lia May 26,*:1-925 FOREIGN tPA"Ilill\III`S Number :Country Date i 555,600 Austria fSept. 25, '1912 571435719 ivllrance `N,ov. 19 i1931 

